Cutting Through the Blog

by Joe Barks (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
November 2006
 

Those of us who grew up in an era when journalism standards were set primarily by newspapers were taught that while great papers like The New York Times focused on providing “All the News That’s Fit to Print,” bad ones just settled for this “guideline”: “Anything That Fits, We’ll Print.”

The point was there had to be some measure of selectivity to ensure the excellence and success of a publication. You were insulting your readers, and not doing your job, if you just slopped anything onto a page without first taking the time to decide if it would have any real value. And if the content passed that test, you still needed to work hard at crafting an effective communication.

At the risk of really sounding like an old ink-stained coot, what’s always bothered me about the “blogging” phenomenon is that most of what’s out there in the so-called blogosphere is one giant slopfest. No one seems to exercise any judgment about who might actually find the content useful, or show any inclination to provide good writing and editing.

As our President, Dan Ramella, points out in his “Off the Cuff ” column on page one of this issue, we have devoted considerable energies over the past two years to develop a top-quality print publication—and you have shown strong appreciation for the product—but that’s no longer enough in today’s world.

So I’m here to give you the shocking news that, in addition to the new features of our Web site that Dan has listed, Mr. Ink-Stained Coot will now also be holding his nose and doing a cannonball into the sea of online blogging.

Just as you have been with this magazine, you’ll ultimately be the judge of whether joining me on the “other side” will be worthwhile. If you find it isn’t, I certainly hope, and expect, that you’ll let me know. But if you are thinking of diving in, here are some quick assurances about what you will, and won’t, read on my Web log (www.clubandresortbusiness.com/blog ).

You will find:
•Ideas that I’ve seen or heard that I think might be of value to you in your professions—much like what you find in this magazine, just more of it, and new. As Dan mentions, the one real strength of the Web over print is that there’s unlimited room. As I have often been accused of gathering 10 pounds of material and trying to fit it into a five-pound magazine, I do think this will be a good opportunity to give you a lot more of what you’ve already told us you like about C&RB.

And now here’s what won’t be there:
•Stuff that’s already been in the magazine, or will be.
•Stuff I don’t think would be worth putting in the magazine.
•A diary of what I did today, or any reviews of movies that I’ve seen.

Stand back so you don’t get splashed.